UPDATE 10-10-014The Daily News has answered some of our comment questions regarding who knew what and when and clarified that (1) Collins wife (Faye Grant) was not the one who leaked the tape and (2) outside pressure was placed on Grant in 2012 to pursue the initial inquiry into Collins behaviour in 1972. It’s a decent read. – Oz

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Original Post:

I am heartsick over this news. I am not a religious person and parts of this show made me crazy – but the general make-up of the cast and the ‘normalcy’ of the interactions between family members made this a fun show to watch. And mom and dad, of course, were the constant, steadfast heroes.

I am shattered to learn the truth about Stephen Collins. Not surprised, mind you because child molestation is far more common in our society than we care to acknowledge – but shattered nonetheless. I adored the actor. I adored his role in 7th Heaven. Now I just want to go somewhere and throw up.

Stephen Collins — who played the pastor/dad on “7th Heaven” — confessed to his estranged wife he was a child molester, and it’s all on tape … a tape obtained by TMZ. And the New York Police Dept. is now conducting an active criminal investigation involving sexual contact with multiple children.

Collins — who is in the middle of a nasty, prolonged divorce with actress Faye Grant — revealed to her in 2012 he had molested and/or exposed himself to several underage girls years before. Collins and Grant went to a therapist where she peppered him with questions about the incidents … and he not only answered, he was specific.

Here’s what Collins didn’t know at the time. Grant taped the therapy session. We’re told her lawyer advised her it was legal to secretly record the conversation because in California you’re allowed to secretly record conversations to gather evidence the other person committed a violent felony … and molesting a child under the age of 14 qualifies.

We have protected the names of the victims Collins mentions on tape. As you listen … you will hear Collins refer to a “disclosure” and a “list.” This refers to a confession Collins had already made to his wife … which triggered the therapy session.

You hear Collins flatly confess to molesting an 11-year-old New York girl — a relative of his first wife — saying, “There was one moment of touching where her hand, I put her hand on my penis.” He also acknowledges exposing himself to the girl “a couple of times” … he says when she was 11, 12 and 13.

Grant asks, “When you exposed yourself … did you have an erection?” He responds, “No, I mean, no. Partial, maybe I think.”

Grant then inquires about other girls. Collins mentions an L.A. girl who lived in their neighborhood, but says he tried righting the wrong by apologizing to her years later.

The walrus is a steadfastly big animal. Big. Big and heavy. I would imagine if I were a walrus and had to swim from place to place for a living I would need very strong muscles and a lot of scheduled rest stops. Oh wait. That’s exactly the way it is for actual walruses!

But here’s the new glitch in the life habits of a walrus: The sea ice they have relied on for centuries to use as rest-stops have mostly now melted in the warming temperatures of the ocean making it impossible for them to travel. And since it is imperative on many levels for the walrus to keep travelling they have begun a curios new habit: They now swim to shore and rest on Alaska beaches.